2,000-Year-old Roman Bathers' Gems That Likely Fell Off From Their Rings Discovered Near Hadrian's Wall

Roman bathhouses were common across the ancient Roman empire as they were not only built for bathing but also for relaxing. But even today, it is common knowledge that bringing valuables into a swimming pool is always a danger. Based on the number of gems retrieved from the drain of one of their bathhouses, the Romans should have paid more attention.

Archeologists in Carlisle, England, uncovered a treasure trove in the bottom of the drain system of an ancient Roman bathhouse near Hadrian's Wall.

Intricately Engraved Gems Found in Ancient Roman Bathhouse

The team discovered 2,000-year-old sparkling gems blocking the drain of a Roman bathhouse near Hadrian's Wall in Carlisle, England, Live Science reported. There were about 30 etched semi-precious stones, known as intaglios, most likely fell out of ring settings worn by bathers between the second and third century A.D.

Archaeologist Frank Giecco, who led the investigation, said in an interview that it is incredible to have found such gemstones and it has caught everyone's imagination as to why they were there. Archaeologists believe that the gemstones might have fallen out of people's rings who were using the baths.

The gems are thought to have been set with vegetable glue and due to the hot and sweaty bathhouse, they fell from the ring settings and somehow clogged the drain.

Giecco said the intaglios were minuscule in that the smallest measured about 0.2 inch (5 mm) and the largest is only about 0.6 inch (16 mm). Aside from these gems, they also found more than 40 women's hairpins and 35 glass beads that were probably from a necklace. He commented that the craftsmanship to engrave such tiny things is extremely incredible.

Place for Well-Off Romans

Researchers also unearthed an amethyst portraying the Roman goddess Venus clutching either a flower or a mirror during the excavation, as well as a piece of jasper carved with a satyr lying languidly on a bed of pebbles.

Giecco explained that such treasures cannot be found at low-status Roman ruins, which means the gems might not have been worn by the impoverished.

The team hypothesizes that the bathers had no idea they had lost their prized possessions until they dried off and returned home. Even then, Giecco said that he would not be shocked if the owners of those gems would only assume that the absence was just a product of petty crime rather than unintentional loss.

The bathhouse was located adjacent to Hadrian's Wall, the Roman empire's northern border. There was an elite cavalry corps from the imperial court stationed there.

Roman Bathhouse: Mainstay in Roman Culture

Public bathhouses were common in ancient Greek communities, although they were often confined to a series of hip baths. On the other hand, as per World History Encyclopedia, Romans developed the concept to include a wide range of amenities, and baths were ubiquitous in even the smallest cities across the Roman empire, where they were frequently built near the forum.

Additionally, affluent residents frequently had their private baths built as part of their villas, and baths were even built for the legions of the Roman army when they were on campaign. These bath complexes took on colossal proportions in the big towns, with massive colonnades and wide-spanning arches and domes.

Baths were open to everybody, rich and poor, and usually opened at midday and stayed open until dusk. During special occasions, such as holidays, the baths were even free to enter.